志賀 龍太 Ryota Shiga x Café Vins London exhibition
21st January - 4th February
1 Marlborough Ct., Soho, London, W1F 7EE Exhibition title: 日日是好日; Everyday is a good day.
In line with London Art Fair 2026, Café Vins opens its gallery space to host Japanese contemporary artist, Ryota Shiga in exhibiting his latest works as part of his running collection, "Every day is a good day".
Born in 1988 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Shiga is a contemporary artist who infuses the philosophy of “Everyday is a good day” into the layered rhythms of his paintings, placing them in dialogue with the simple, unnoticed moments of daily life.
Shiga begins each work with pencil, tracing random lines from which forms arise intuitively, before building colour and depth with oil paint. His expansive yet minimal compositions draw inspiration from the legendary hermit painter, Morikazu Kumagai, reflecting a lightness of touch rooted in an enjoyment of the present moment.
His works highlight the beauty of simplicity and negative space, leaving room for both the artist and viewer to wander—physically and mentally—into unknown worlds. Rooted in an attentiveness to the present, free from the constraints of past or future, the ordinary yet enchanting elements of life—fleeting and quietly delightful—ignite his creativity and are transformed into art. His paintings resemble a toy box of daily musings, capturing the abundance and preciousness of lived moments through warm, gentle brushstrokes.
Shiga’s canvases invite viewers to find joy and beauty within routine, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the everyday. This concept has not only shaped his personal creation but also resonated in his numerous solo and group exhibitions across Asia and beyond, including prestigious venues in Tokyo, Osaka, Taipei, and New York.
Recent solo exhibitions include "Every day is a good day: Redrawing the World" at the Origin of Beauty in Tokyo and "Every day is a good day: I too am Picasso" at the March Gallery in Osaka. Shiga has also participated in various international art fairs like the Affordable Art Fair in New York and the BAMA in Busan.
His contributions to the contemporary art scene have been recognised with several awards, including the Encouragement Award at the 9th Origin of Beauty Exhibition and the Yuta Okuda and Hisashi Tenmyouya Award at Independent Tokyo in 2023.